Overhead crane



Dec. 8, 1931. y 5 TQWNsEND 1,835,357

OVERHEAD. CRANE Filed Feb. 1, 1928 4 sheets-she t 1 Dec. 8, 1931. 4,5, TOWNSENQH i,835,337 OVERHEAD CRANE Filed Feb. 1. 1928 4 Slams-Sneak 2 gm JJ NMM Dec. 8, 1931. J. s. 'mwNs D 1,835,357

' OVERHEAD CRANE Filed Feb. 1; 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet s Dec. 8, 1931. ,1, s ND 1,835,357

OVERHEAD CRANE Filed Feb. 1, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES A EN -ori ice JOHN s. TOWNSEND, or roLnno, onro, essienon 'ro wnrrrive CORPORATION, or

HARVEY, rumors, A ooaroaarion or ILLINOIS OVERHEAD "03am:

Application filed February 1, 1928. Serial Ne. 251,021.

The invention relates to cranes used for charging cupolas or the like.

In foundries it is desirable to operate a. bridge-crane with a suspended drop-bottom 5 bucket to convey the material in the bucket il) terials, flasks and castings. It 'iscustomary to construct the runway for the bridge-crane parallel to a series of cupolas or lengthwise of the foundry building or yard, to avoid the necessity of a bridge with a long span to cover the required yard area, and so the mate.

rial or loads in all available portions of the yard may be reached by the crane. To operate.

the bucket on the bridge and into and out of the cupolas, a trolley which carries the hoisting mechanism and a structural cantilever from which the bucket is suspended, is mounted to travel lengthwise of the bridge. In the operation of apparatus of this character, it has been possible for the cantilever structure or bucket to strike the IL111W2ty-SUPpOItS for the bridge or the cupolas, more particularly when the crane is transporting material in the yard.

One object of the invention is to provide a device for limitin the ra of travel of the cantilever structure,or the runway support. Other objects of the invention will appear from the description of the invention.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafterset forth and more parcupola, to prevent damage to the cupola, the

ticularly defined by claims a the conclusion hereof. a

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an elevation of a bridge-crane provided with the invention and a section ofv a cupola. Fig. 2 is a plan of the crane and associated equipment of a foundry yard. Fig. 3 is a plan on a larger scale of the trolley and a portion of the bridge. Fig.- 4 is a side elevation of the trolley. Fig. 5 is a perspective of a portion of the bridge and one end of the trolley. Fig. 5a is a detail of the switch for cutting out the motor for propelling the bridge.

The invention is exemplified in connection with a foundry equipment comprising a series of cupolas A; a series of bins B for containing the different materials used in charging the cupolas; and a railway track C for delivering cars of materials into the foundry yard where they will be within range ofthe crane, for transfer into the bins'B. Each cupola. A has an opening-a, through which the materials to be used in producing metal are delivered into it by a charging bucket. A

charging floor b is erected adjacent the openings a in the cupola.

An overhead runway, for the bridge D of a crane, extends lengthwise of the foundry yard, and consists of a pair of rails e laid on I-beam e, and suitable supporting columns e for these beams. These columns e are disposed adjacent and out of transverse alignment with the charging-openings, so a charging bucket on the crane may enter the openings between the supports.

The bridge D of the crane comprisesa frame composed of truck-ends (Z and girders or ,sides'cZ rigidly secured together. Each frame end d is built up of channels d and a plate (Z At one side of the bridge, brackets d are fixed to one end ofeacliframe end d, in which are journa lled the axles of flanged wheels cl which run on the rails e respectively.- At the other side, brackets (Z are secured to the frame-end d, and flanged wheels (1 their axles journalled in said brackets.

Wheels (Z are driven to propel the bridge over the runway, by mechanisnrcomprising an electric motor f supported on one of the frame-sides of the bridge; a pinion f, suitably driven by the motor; a gear f meshing with pinion f, and a shaft f driven by gear 7, and which extends along and is supported from one of the framesides 03. At each of its ends, shaft f is provided with a pinion f to mesh with a gear 7, fixed to the wheels (1 respectively, so that said wheels will be synchronously driven to propel the bridge. Suitable controlling mechanism for the motor 7, to control the movements of the bridge, is provided, and this comprises a switch 7 in the operators cab g which is suspended from the end of the bridge which is remote to the cupolas. A brake f as well understood in the art, controlled by a pedal f in the operators cab, is provided to stop the gearing for operating the bridge. Each frame-side d of the bridge is built up of plates d angle bars (Z and top plates cl, all rigidly secured together. Rails h for the wheels Z of a travelling carriage or trolley L, are secured on the plates 03 and extend approximately from end to end of the bridge, so the trolley may travel transversely of the runway for the bridge.

The trolley or carriage L comprises a suitable frame Z Bucket-hoisting mechanism M is mounted on this frame. A second hoisting mechanism N and mechanism 0 for pro pelling the trolley on rails h to propel the trolley on the bridge are also mounted on this frame.

The propelling mechanism 0 comprises an electric motor 0; a pinion 0 on the motor shaft; a gear 0 fixed to a shaft 0 a pinion 0 fixed to shaft 0 agear 0 is fixed to shaft 0 pinion o fixed to shaft 0 ;'a-nd gear 0 fixed to the wheel Z at one side of the trolley and meshing with a pinion 0 Stop-blocks 0 are fixed on and adjacent the ends of the bridge to confine the travel of the trolley to its greatest working range on the bridge.

A cantilever structure P, suspended from the trolley L, comprises legs ;a secured to the trolley-frame. Z cross-members p, braces 29*, and beams 79 which are extended to project beyond one end of the bridge to extend and carry a charging bucket Q, into a cupola. The hoisting mechanism M for this bucket comprises an electric-motor m, a pinion m on the motor shaft; a gear m driven by pinion m, and fixed to a shaft m which has fixed thereto a pinion m; a gear m meshing with pinion m and fixed to a shaft m which carries and drives a pinion m; a gear m meshing with pinion m, and a winding-drum or Windlass m for a cable m The latter passes from the drum around a guide-sheave m and thence around a guide-sheave m carried at the outer ends of the beams p and its free end is provided with a hook 112, from which the charging bucket is detachably suspended. The gearing of the bucket hoisting mechanism is enclosedin a housing Z The motor m is controlled, as well understood in the. art, by a switch in the operators cab, so that the bucket Q may be raised or lowered at will, in loading the bucket, or weighing it with its contents, and to bring it to the level of the charging openings a in the cupolas. This exemplifies a bridge-crane provided with a carriage or trolleywith a cantilever structure for handling a charging bucket, so it may be first loaded with materials and then shifted into the cupola to discharge the materials.

In foundry practice it is desirable to utilize the same bridge-crane. for transferring materials from the railway cars in which they are received to the storage bins, and for other purposes, such as. the transfer of flasks and castings. For this purpose the trolley L is equipped with the hoisting mechanism N. This comprises a Windlass or drum n, a hoisting cable 02 having one of its ends attached to said drum, its other end attached to the frame Z and a pendant loop n for a load block with a sheave n and a hook a The mechanism for operating this drum comprises an electric motor a a pinion n on the motor-shaft; a gear n fixed to a shaft n which drives a pinion n thereon; a gear n meshing with pinion n and fixed to a shaft 12, which drives a pinion n; and a gear n rigid with the winding drum n. A housing it on frame Z encloses this gearing. A lighting magnet R is suspended from hook a when it is desired to transfer pig iron and the like. from the railway car to the bins. When the magnet is detached the hoisting cable 1% may be used for any other available work around the foundry. The hoisting mechanism N is controlled from the operators cab on the bridge, as well understood in the art, and may be provided with the usual load-brake for controlling the lowering of the load, as well understood in the art. This exemplifies a bridge-crane with mechanism for handling a charging bucket, and a second hoisting mechanism for handling other work, such as transferring iron and scrap from cars to bins, so that the crane can be used for charging the cupolas and for other work.

To prevent the trolley from travelling into position to cause the cantilever-structure to strike the runway supports when the crane is operating in handling material or for other purposes than. manipulating the charging bucket into and out of the cupolas, stop means is provided, to limit its range to the space within the runway. This means consists of a pair of stop-dogs S which are adapted to be engaged by lugs or members 8 which are fixed to one end of the frame Z? of the trolley. These dogs are pivoted, at s, in brackets s which are fixed to the cover plate of bridge-girders, and each comprises a stop-lug or abutment's which is normally in the. path of and is adaptedto arrest the lugs s on the trolley in their outward movement. eight-arms s which rest on the top of the bridge-frame hold the dogs in their normal operative position. The dogs are free to swing in one direction to permit the lugs s to pass over the dogs in the retractile movement of the trolley. The dogs are connected for conjoint operation by a rock-shaft s which is pivoted in brackets 8 beyond the range of travel'of the wheels of'the trolley, arms a fixed to said shaft, and connecting rods 8 between the arms and the dogs respectivcly. The dogs are operable at the will of the crane-operator in the cab, to permit the trolley to pass beyond them when the cantilever structure is to be operated to carry the bucket Q into a cupola by a cable .9 which is connected to one of the dogs S, is guided by a sheave .9 and provided with a handle 3 within reach of the operator in the cab. When the bridge has been aligned with an opening a of a cupola, the operator, by a pull on handle 8 can swing the dogs S so the lugs s on the trolley-carriage will pass over them and permit, the cantilever structure to be operated into the cupola. This exemplifies stop-means for the trolley which is operable at the will of the crane operator, to control the movements of the trolley so its range of travel will be limited to prevent the cantilever structure from striking the runway supports when the crane is being operated in the foundry for general uses, and which will permit the additional outward travel necessary when the cupola is being charged.

In practice, it is important to prevent travel of the bridge after it has been set into position to bring the bucketinto alignment with a cupola-opening, and for this purpose an automatic switch T, operable by'lug's s on the trolley, is provided. This switch has its contacts included in the circuit conductors for the motor f which drives the gearing-tor propelling the bridge, and comprises atwo armed switch-operating lever 25 which is pivoted in a box 25 secured to the top of one of the plates 0- and has its arms extended so they will be alternately rocked into the path of a lug s on the trolley-carriage. In its outward movement, said lug engages one arm of said lever and shifts it into position to open the circuit for motor f and in the retractile movement of the carriage, said lug engages and reversely shifts the other arm of the lever to automatically close said circuit to again render the bridge operable under the control of the operator. Switch T is positioned so it will be operated to open the motor circuit slightly before the dogs S are en countered by the lugs s to insure the stoppage of the bridge, before the cantilever structure. crosses the line of the supports for the bridgerunway, and so it will not be closed to render the bridge movable underthe control of the the cupola or the runway supports.

The invention exemplifies an overhead bridge-crane which 1s adapted or usable tor chargingcupolas or furnaces and for otherwise handling material or loads in which provision is made for preventing the cantilever structure from striking the runway supports, and for automatically preventing the movement of the bridge during the charging of the cupolas.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. In a crane, the combination of an overhead bridge, an elevated runway for the bridge, supportsfor the runway, a carriage movable on the bridge transversely of the runway, a cantilever structure on the carriagefor delivering a load between the supports and beyond one side of the runway, a hoisting mechanism. on the carriage, for said lead, stop-means for limiting the range of travel of the carriage on the bridge so the structure will be inwardly of the supports, means for rendering inoperative the stop-means to permit the carriage to travel without restriction and to cause the load to be delivered beyond the supports, propelling mechanism for the bridge, means for manually controlling the propelling mechanism while the carriage is in its limited range, and means for automatically rendering said propelling mechanism inoperative when the carriage is outside of said limited range.

2. In a crane, the combination of an overhead bridge, an elevated runway for the bridge, supports for the runway, a carriage movable on the bridge transversely of the runway, a cantilever structure on the carriage for delivering a load between the supports and beyond one side of the runway, ahoisting 'mechanism on the carriage, for said load,

stop-means for limiting the range of travel of the carriage on the bridge so the structure f range, and a switch,operable by the element danger of the cantilever structure striking on the carriage, to stop the motor while the carriage is outside of the limited range.

3. In combination, an elevated runway comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracks, vertically extending supports for sustaining one of the tracks in its elevated position, a bridge supported on and movable lengthwise of the tracks and provided with an operators cab from which it is controlled, a carriage controlled from the cab and mounted on the bridge so that it is movable transversely of the runway, means for delivering a load outwardly of said one track, said means being suspended from the carriage and shiftable between the supports by manipulation of the carriage, means for limiting the movement of the carriage on the bridge so that said carriage cannot be moved into a position where in the delivery means would strike against the supports during travel of the bridge along the runway, and means controllable from the operators cab for rendering the limiting means inoperative to permit the carriage to be moved without restriction on the bridge and so as to causethe delivery-means to be shifted between said supports.

4. In combination, an elevated runway comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracks, vertically extending supportsfor sustaining one of the tracks in its elevated position, a bridge supported on and movable lengthwise of the tracks and provided with a depending operators cab from which it is controlled, a carriage controlled from the cab and mounted on the bridge so that it is movable transversely ot the runway and provided with hoisting mechanism for liftingobjects between the tracks, a cantilever device for delivering'a load outwardly of said one track, said device being suspended from the carriage and shittable between the supports by manipulation of the carriage, means for limiting the movement of the carriage on the bridge so that said carriage cannot be moved into a position wherein the cantilever device would strike against the supports during travel of the bridge along the runway in the use of the aforesaid hoisting mechanism, and means controllable from the operators cab for rendering the limiting means inoperative to permit the carriage to be moved without restriction on the bridge and so as to cause said cantilever device to be shifted betwee said supports.

5. In combination, a runway comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracks, a bridge supported on and movable lengthwise of the tracks and provided with an operators cab from which it is controlled, a carriage controlled from the caband mounted on the bridge so that it is movable transversely of the runway, a cantilever device carried by the carriage and having means for delivering a load through a side opening in a structure at one side of the runway, means for li-miting the movement of the carriage on the bridge to a range wherein the cantilever device and delivery-means cannot strike against the structure during travel of the bridge along the runway, and means controllable from the operators cab on the bridge for rendering the limiting means inoperative to permit the carriage to be moved without restriction on the bridge andso as to cause the cantilever device and delivery-means to enter said structure.

6. In combination, an elevated runway comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracks, vertically extending supports for sustaining one of the tracks in its elevated position, a bridge supported on and movable lengthwise of the tracks and provided with an operators cab from which it is controlled, a carriage controlled "from the cab and mounted on the bridge so that it is movable transversely of the runway, means for delivering a load outwardly of said one track, said means being suspended from the carriage and shiftable between the supports by manipulation of the carriage, a pair of coacting stops on the bridge and carriage for limiting the movement of the carriage so that. said carriage cannot be moved into a position wherein the deli very-means would strike against the supports during travel of the bridge along the runway, and means controllable from the cab torshii ting one ot the stops into an inoperative position to permit the carriage to be moved without restriction on the bridge and so as to cause the delivery-means to be shifted between said supports.

7. In combination, an elevated runway comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracks, vertically extending supports for sustaining one of thetracks in its elevated position, a bridge supported on and movable lengthwise of the tracks and provided with an operators cab from which it controlled, a carriage controlled from the cab and mounted on the bridge so that it is movable transversely of the runway, means for delivering a load outwardly of said one track, said means being suspended from the carriage and shiftable between the supports by manipulation of the carriage, and means for limiting the movement of the carriage on the bridge so that said carriage cannot be moved into a position wherein the delivery-means would strike against the supports during travel of thebridge along the runway, said limiting means comprising a lug fixed to the carriage and a movable stop device on the bridge, the stop device being controllable from the cab and movable into an inoperative position to permit the carriage to be moved without restrirtion on the bridge and so as to cause the delivery-means to be shifted between said supports.

8. In combination, an elevated runway comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracks, vertically extending supports for sustaining one of the tracks in its elevated position, a

bridge supported on and movable lengthwise of the tracks and provided with an operators cab from which it is controlled, a carriage controlled from the cab and mounted on the bridge so that it is movable transversely of the runway, means for delivering a load out wardly of said one track, said means being suspended from the carriage and shiftable between the supports by manipulation of the carriage, and means comprising a stop dog on the bridge for limiting the movement of the carriage on the bridge to a range wherein the delivery-means cannot strike against the supports during travel of the bridge along the runway, said clog being controllable from the operators cab on the bridge and releasable from its operative position to permit the carriage to be moved without restriction on the bridge and so as to cause the deliverymeans to be shifted between said supports, and being mounted so as to enable the carriage to be retracted into the range of limited movement without interference.

9. In combination, an elevated runway comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracks, vertically extending supports for sustaining one of the tracks in its elevated position, a bridge supported on and movable lengthwise of the tracks, propelling mechanism for the bridge, a carriage mounted on the bridge so that it is movable transversely of the'runway, means for delivering a load outwardly of said one track, said means being suspended from the carriage and shiftable between the supports by manipulation of the carriage,

and means for automatically rendering the propelling means inoperative when the car- 7 riage is moved on the bridge into a position wherein the delivery-means would strike against the supports in the event that the bridge were moved along the runway.

10. In combination, a runway comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracks, a bridge mounted on and movable lengthwise'of the tracks, propelling mechanism for the bridge, a carriage mounted on the bridge so that it is movable transversely of the runway, a cantilever device carried by the carriage and having means for delivering a load through a side opening in a structure at one side of the runway, and means for automatically rendering the propelling means in operative when the carriage is shifted into a position wherein the delivery-means is positioned'to discharge into the structure.

Signed at Harvey, Illinois, this 30th day of November, 1927. I

JOHN S. TOWNSEND. 

